Arrivals & Dismissals

K-5 students who walk to school or who are dropped off by parents may not arrive at school until 8:40 AM or later. Students may not arrive earlier as there is no supervision. Vehicles should follow safety protocols. It is one-way traffic in and out of the parking lot. We follow STOP-DROP-GO procedures. Please stay in the drop off line, pull up as far as possible, and allow your child to exit the vehicle on the curbside. Do not exit your vehicle or otherwise block the drop off lines. This causes unnecessary delays and frustration. If the driver and/or other adults need to exit the vehicle for any reason, please park in a legal parking space. Yellow lines and/or signage mean NO PARKING. As this is a busy time of day, please be courteous and mindful of students and vehicles. Observe all traffic safety rules.

Upon their arrival, all K-5 students will enter the building through either the front or preschool doors and assemble in the hallways near their homerooms. Students arriving late, after the 8:55 AM bell, must be brought to the office and signed-in.

Students are dismissed at 3:25 PM on Full Days and at 1:00PM on One-Session/Early Dismissal Days. In the case of an unscheduled early dismissal due to inclement weather or other emergency, information will be posted on the district’s web site www.pthsd.k12.nj.us and announced through School Messenger.

Bus/van students assemble in their respective lines in the All Purpose Room and are escorted by a staff member to their bus upon its arrival. Under no circumstances may a bus/van student be discharged at a location other than his/her designated bus stop. Children cannot be transported to a baby sitter’s home, a friend’s home, etc. Walkers are not permitted to ride school vehicles.

Walkers in grades K - 2 will be dismissed from the northwest door of the upper wing (preschool doors) and will be released by a staff member directly to a parent or parent designee (as set forth in writing by the parent), who may then escort the child home either on foot or by car.

Walkers in grades 3- 5 will be dismissed from the main entrance door near and will be released by the staff as a group to either walk home on their own or wait for a parent or designee.

Students who have been authorized to walk home unescorted, will be instructed to walk home directly.

Students who have not been authorized to walk home unescorted will be instructed to wait for their parents (or designee) near the flagpole. Staff members will supervise students. Please do not enter the building to meet your child.

If you plan to escort your child home by car, please adhere to the following procedures:

Please park only in a designated parking spot.

Please meet your child outdoors and escort him/her to your parked car. Children are not permitted to walk through the parking lot unescorted.

As there are many pedestrians, vehicles, and traffic at this time, please be courteous and mindful of students and vehicles. Observe all traffic safety rules.

Any students who have not been picked up by 3:30 PM will be directed to the Main Office. Parents picking up after 3:30 PM must report to the Main Office and to sign their child/ren out.